First Guests Check In To Novotel Christchurch

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Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square opened its doors today (Monday 19 August), becoming the newest city centre hotel and Accor’s second property to reopen since the February 2011 earthquake.

Visiting Christchurch for the second time after falling in love with New Zealand on honeymoon last February, Pietro and Ilaria Torresin (Peter and Hilary)from Verona in Italy, were the first guests to check in to the hotel and were greeted by General Manager Carl Braddock and his team with much excitement and celebration. 

Novotel Christchurch welcomes first guests
To mark the opening, the Novotel team members cooked up a storm in Cathedral Square for locals on their lunch break, handing out free mini burgers and a shot o’ soup. In the evening, the hotel also held drinks to celebrate and a business card draw for one lucky person to win a night at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside for two.

General Manager of Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square, Carl Braddock, said that the re-opening of the Novotel marks another significant step in the recovery of the city’s tourism industry.

“After working countless hours and Host Hotels & Resorts investing more than twenty million dollars to bring the hotel back to its former glory, we are totally over the moon to welcome back the first guests to Novotel Christchurch.

“We are confident that locals and our guests will be proud of what has been achieved over the last two years and bookings are already streaming in. We aim to have the heart of Christchurch beating strongly again in no time and help accelerate the city’s central business district and tourism industry recovery,” said Carl.

Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square joins Accor’s other central city hotel, Ibis Christchurch, both owned by Host Hotels & Resorts in adding new accommodation, gym, dining and conference facilities, while offering some of the best views over the city and iconic Cathedral ruins.

The reincarnated 13- storey Novotel has extensive conference and meeting facilities and will play a major role in Christchurch’s ability to host large tour groups, major conferences and boost local employment.

Guests and locals alike will enjoy the theatre of hearty steaks sizzling away in the live kitchen – The Butchery and Grill – in addition to Novotel’s restaurant & bar, The Square. The Square Restaurant and Bar is headed up by German chef, Phillip Knoedler, who comes from a background of Michelin Star restaurants in Europe.

Located just 30 minutes from Christchurch Airport, the Novotel is literally encircled by the renewed central city shopping areas, the planned convention centre, performing arts and Justice and Emergency services precincts.

Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square will have an official opening ceremony on the anniversary of the first earthquake on 4 September. 

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